: How to Cut One Shape at the Stroke of Another in Illustrator CS5 This would be quite simple but I can't see to do it. I have a shape/object (shape 1) and another shape object (shape 2).

@Si6392903

You have a fundamental issue with how you conceive your shapes. You want to "cut" Shape 2 using Shape 1, yet you want the resulting shape to include space for Shape 1's stroke. There isn't a simple way to do that - any method you try will require you to take Shape 1's stroke into account.

There are several ways to do this, but I would do the following:


Copy Shape 1 and paste in back (if you want to keep it).
Select Shape 1 and perform Object ⇒ Expand (check both Fill and Stroke)
Ungroup Shape 1's expanded components.
With Shape 1's components selected, use Subtract from shape area on the Pathfinder menu. (This will give you a fill object that is smaller than your original Shape 1)
Select Shape 2 and your new, smaller fill object from Shape 1 and select Intersect shape areas on the Pathfinder menu.


This will give you an object that is constrained by the visible fill area of your Shape 1 object.

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@Caterina889

If I understand correctly.....


Select both shapes
copy
Delete shape 2
Select Shape 1 and Object > Hide (this is just to make it easier and is not required)
Edit > paste in front
Select Shape 1
Object > Expand
Pathfinder > Minus Front
Select Both Shape 1 and Shape 2
Pathfinder > Minus Back
Object > Show All (To unhide Shape 1 in step 4)


Result : lower half of Shape 2 by itself trimmed to match edge of Shape 1.

What this does is expands Shape 1 then trims the size of the stroke from the shape allowing the Minus Back to only use the inner area of Shape 1.

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